In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 102

She hadn’t noticed it in the darkness yesterday, but under the bright light, the necklace shimmered in various colors.

It was mysterious. The gem, which looked unusual at a glance, seemed like a rare treasure that didn’t exist in this world.

She stared at the jewel in a trance, as if seeing it for the first time. Just then, he suddenly snatched the necklace away and tapped his scabbard.

Snapping back to her senses, Mona immediately pressed her forehead to the floor again.

“I said I’d ask only once. You really must want to die here.”

“I-it was a gift from His Imperial Highness.”

“…What? Impes?”

“Yes. Well… he wasn’t in his right mind at the time, b-but he said it was a gift, something very, very precious.”

Worried he might think she’d stolen it, Mona stammered repeatedly as she explained.

“He said it was very precious and gave it to you as a gift. That Impes.”

“Y-yes! That’s right.”

“Did he say where it came from, or what kind of gem it was?”

“N-no. He just gave it to me.”

“I see.”

The man’s seemingly calm demeanor made Mona breathe a sigh of relief.

But it was only for a moment—another question cornered her again.

“You were there on the Grand Duchess’s orders.”

“What? Ah… yes. T-that’s right. I was there under Her Grace’s orders—”

“Did she order you to seduce Impes like that, pretending to be her?”

“Ah… th-that’s…”

Her amber eyes darted back and forth.

She desperately searched her empty mind for an answer that might save her life.

But instinct told her she wouldn’t survive no matter what she said.

Even so, she had to say something.

The man’s hand was already gripping the hilt of his sword.

Bellona hadn’t explicitly ordered it, but she had turned a blind eye.

Wasn’t that the same as giving the order?

But if she said Bellona hadn’t…

‘I’m as good as dead.’

As she hesitated, on the verge of tears, a voice sharper and more furious than before lashed out.

“I asked you—did Bellona tell you to dress like her and seduce Impes?!”

Just then, a cold voice interrupted.

“I gave the order. And Mona will continue pretending to be me a few more times.”

Startled, Mona looked up to find the famously close couple staring at each other with icy eyes.

Only briefly stunned, Bellona turned to Mona and gave her an order.

“Do whatever it takes to instill as much rage against the Empress in Impes as you can. That’s the only way you’ll protect both your ambition and your life, Mona.”

“What do you mean by that.”

At his cold voice, Mona glanced nervously at Caelus.

But Bellona didn’t spare him a glance and bore down on Mona with a piercing gaze.

“If you understood, what are you doing still standing here instead of going to rein in your little pet?”

Something about Bellona’s demeanor had changed, and with a dumbfounded look, Mona timidly rose to her feet.

Curious about the strange tension between the two, she still hurried out of the office, afraid Caelus might grab her.

Once Mona was gone, the chilly air grew even colder.

Only then did Bellona take a seat where Mona had been, staring at him with an unreadable expression.

“I think I asked you what that was about.”

“First, there’s something I need to say.”

“If it’s about divorce, don’t bother. I’m not going to agree to it.”

“I want to make a new proposal.”

“What?”

His smooth brow creased slightly at the sudden shift. Judging by her indifferent gaze, it didn’t seem like a pleasant proposal.

Even so, he had no choice but to listen. If it was something she said, he had to know.

“What proposal.”

“As you ordered, I will remain by your side. I will live the rest of my life in repentance. But.”

Her green eyes, hiding some unspoken resolve, flashed for an instant.

“I’ll do that only after this revenge is complete. Until then, please pretend not to see whatever I do.”

“Whatever you do?”

“Yes. As I told you yesterday, I will do whatever it takes to complete this revenge. That is my only goal, the reason I live.”

He understood her completely, but it didn’t feel good. To say revenge was the reason she lived…

His already wrinkled brow furrowed deeper as he tilted his head slightly.

“And after the revenge is over, your reason for living changes?”

“We’ll see when the time comes. Right now, I don’t have the luxury to dream about the future.”

“Hah… What am I supposed to do with that stubborn streak of yours.”

“If you order me to fix that too, I’ll try after the revenge is over. Of course, only if your feelings for me haven’t changed by then.”

At her smoothly prepared response, he looked at her with eyes full of suspicion.

‘What’s she scheming this time?’

“If you accept this proposal, I’ll share everything I know with you. Not a single thing will be hidden.”

“Are you suggesting we form an alliance?”

“That wouldn’t be a bad way to put it. If it’s more comfortable to think of it as an alliance for revenge, then so be it.”

“An alliance with the Goddess of the Sword… not bad. But.”

He adjusted his posture. His golden eyes turned cold as he stared straight at her.

“I’ll need a promise that whatever you do, you’ll do it by my side. That means I won’t allow you to act alone.”

“Are you sure about that?”

At her bold reply, he fell silent for a moment.

He couldn’t answer easily, not knowing what dangerous thing she was about to do. Seeing how completely different she was from yesterday made him all the more uneasy.

“Then I’ll take that as a yes to my proposal—”

“One more thing.”

“…Go ahead.”

“If your safety is at risk, I will intervene under any circumstances. Even if it breaks our alliance.”

At his resolute expression, Bellona let out a sigh. “You know who I am, and you still don’t trust me?”

Bellona finally voiced the frustration she hadn’t expressed until now.

“Even if you were once the ‘Goddess of the Sword,’ to me now, you’re just a wife I need to protect. So if you want to make an alliance with me, promise me.”

Protect, he said.

It was something she’d never heard before, and while she found it absurd, Bellona had no choice but to agree.

She couldn’t afford to miss this opportunity over some stubborn pride.

“Very well.”

“Good. Now, answer the question I asked earlier. Why does that wench keep pretending to be you?”

A sly smile crossed her face as her gaze shifted in an instant.

“Lopez Edana has entered the Empress’s palace.”

“Lopez Edana?”

“Yes, daughter of the Louvre family, and likely the next crown princess.”

“The Louvre family…”

Caelus’s eyes widened as he suddenly realized something. Bellona nodded meaningfully as she looked at him.

***

“Lopez Edana of the noble House of Louvre greets Your Imperial Majesty the Empress.”

“Welcome, Lady Lopez.”

“Please, speak comfortably, Your Majesty.”

Wearing a pleased smile, Violentia took Lopez’s hand and personally seated her by her side.

“I couldn’t possibly. You are the noble one who will soon carry the empire’s true bloodline. I must show my respect first.”

“Your Majesty…”

Lopez looked at the Empress with a face full of emotion.

“As the future crown princess, all you need to do is trust in me. Think of me as your mother and rely on me whenever you need.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I too will serve Your Majesty and His Imperial Highness with utmost sincerity.”

As if they were already family, Violentia praised her as the crown princess, and Lopez graciously responded to the title.

Needing more forces to support her, Violentia hastily brought in the House of Louvre, currently the most influential in the empire.

Though a marriage proposal had already been discussed, various incidents at the recent hunting festival had put it in jeopardy.

But with the situation shifting rapidly, she went so far as to refuse the dowry she should’ve received from the Louvre family, instead sending them expensive jewels and ornaments in her own hand.

Fortunately, Count Louvre, focused only on the imperial throne Impes would soon ascend, changed his mind.

The damage from Impes’s reckless actions was considerable, but at least securing Lopez was a stroke of luck.

Violentia was convinced the House of Louvre would now serve as her firm shield.

“Your Majesty, but what about His Imperial Highness…”

“Ah, you’d like to meet the Crown Prince, wouldn’t you.”

“Yes, I thought it would be nice to get a little closer to him before the ceremony…”

With her cheeks tinged red, Lopez gave a shy smile.

Violentia slightly furrowed her brow, then gently caressed the back of Lopez’s hand with a warm expression.

“That’s a lovely thought. But… he might be asleep right now.”

“Pardon? At this hour?”

“He hasn’t been able to sleep lately, with all the stress from the hunting festival. Last night, he finally managed some rest with the help of medicine.”

“Ah… I see. Then, may I at least take a brief look at his sleeping face?”

“Hmm, if you want to see him that badly, I suppose you should.”

With a bright smile, Lopez received a gentle one in return. But as the Empress turned her head slightly, her face twisted into a vicious glare as she gestured toward a waiting maid.

Understanding immediately, the maid rushed off toward the Crown Prince’s palace.